How old is too old to breed?

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gill84

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Considering breeding a foal off my ID x mare next year. She's fit and in good condition and I know our others mares dam was 21 when she had her, but just wondered if 18 for a first foal is a bit much?
 
Good point! It would just be nice to have a foal off her coz I'd love to have something when she's gone. She's such a lovely horse just wish I'd thought more seriously about it a few years ago.
 
It is not to old we have covered mares the same age ad older and had foals or rather our customers have but I would say unless your mare has a reasonable pedigree and you have a job in mind for the foal then buy instead right now there are so many horses looking for a good home! an you have no idea if your mares tempreament will be passed on to the foal think very carefully about it.
The downside of breeding from your mare is it could cost you in vets bills to get her in foal as aged mares usually requre intensive assistance from a vet.
the upside of breeding is its amazing good luck with what ever you feel is right for you and our mare
 
Our maiden mare was 17, took first time, no problems during pregnancy, and foaled down in front of us a fortnight early, foal up with 30 minutes and all was good. We took a very straight forward view of breeding her - if she took great, and if she didn't then there would have been a good reason for it and we wouldn't try and try for months. The only issue was that she wasn't fully in season, so the vet gave her a jab to bring her full in, sorted!
 
I know there's loads of foals looking for homes but I want the satisfaction of knowing she my mares offspring and it would never be sold for sentimental reasons. Thanks for reassuring me she's not too old though I do understand the possible vet bills and extra care she might need I think I need to talk to my vet next time we have him down and decide what's best for her
 
MrVelvet can i ask why in your opinion you think its to old?
Only we have customers who have been thrilled to have foals from their mares who have been older but have been to busy competing
 
I bred from my mare at the age of 20 so was 21 when she gave birth, I had her checked out first by my equine vet, and the owner of the stud actually popped over to see her he told me he would be honest with me if he thought it was a bad idea for my mare. Once I got the all clear I decided it would all be done natually if she took that was great and if not it was just bad luck.
My friend also sent her 16 year old maiden mare to the same stud and used the same stallion, both mares took first time and both gave birth within 24 hours of each other. My mare who the stud believed to have foaled before had a very easy birth, the filly was up and suckling within 1/2 hour. However the maiden mare who also foaled a huge colt fine did take up to 2 hours to let the foal suckle, it was quite a worry untill the foal was accepted the mare seemed genuinely frightened of the foal.
Both filly and now gelding are 14 months old and doing brill, and will never be sold on. I am back riding my mare who will be 23 next year, and I have never looked back its the best thing I ever did.
 
angrovestud said:
MrVelvet can i ask why in your opinion you think its to old?
Only we have customers who have been thrilled to have foals from their mares who have been older but have been to busy competing
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Yes you can, But first let me tell you I am no expert and it is just my personal opinion! :)

At college we were told that after a certain age the bones become more brittle and less able to expand etc making carrying a foal and giving birth more difficult (Im not sure how much truth is in this, but it does make sense! for maiden mares anyway) Many people have already said on here that an older mare will generally need more veterinary care - meaning it's harder for the mare to carry - is this really fair?

I'm a bit funny about breeding tbh, A lot of people have the 'my mares no longer any use to me for riding, Lets put her in foal and make some pennies before she has to go' (disclaimer - I am not saying this is what the OP here is saying!!!)

eta - Id say early teens max - IMO :)
 
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Hmm so general opinion is she will be fine? I'm going to go in with the sane open mind, if it happens it happens, if not well it wasn't meant to be. But that said she's due her flu jab in the new year and I think I'll have a good chat with my equine vet and if he sees no reason why she wouldn't be fine then I'll start deciding what I want to put her to. Thanks people x
 
I have a similar dilemma. My mare who is retired through injury will be 18 next year. It is two years since her injury and I am now gently long reining her (for her own sake and not because I want to ride her, as they are now only turned out for 3 hours a day in the all weather). She has remained sound and very happy with the long reining and is not on bute. I would love to breed from her, especially as her replacement (my gelding) is out of action, probably permanently and will also have to retire. But I just couldn't bear the thought of losing her if I put her in foal and she died giving birth or carrying the foal. I would never forgive myself. So I am fighting with my selfish side that wants another 'her' (she is one in a million, an absolute star in every respect you could imagine). The stud owner thinks she would be fine and also the vet. I don't think I can do it though. Just in case.
 
MrVelvet said:
Many people have already said on here that an older mare will generally need more veterinary care - meaning it's harder for the mare to carry - is this really fair?
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The extra veterinary care an old maiden needs is nothing to do with her ability to carry a foal - it's the getting in foal. This can be harder for 'old' maidens (and anything over 11 counts as an 'old' maiden) because they tend to retain fluid after covering and this makes it harder for them to get in foal (as the uterus might be 'wet and mucky' when the vesicle descends to the uterus.)

However, this is not normally insurmountable! You need to pre-scan the mare to make sure the uterus is 'clean' - and to map any cysts. You need to time the covering/AI just 'right' - so it only has to be done once. And then you need to treat for fluid - ideally 6-8 hours after covering. This can involve an extra couple of vet visits.

While some old maidens can take first time and NOT have fluid problems, it's not as likely as with a much younger mare.
 
The above proved true with my mare, she was a maiden at 17, she was at stud from beginning of May until late September - she was pooling fluid in her uterus - finally scanned in foal September when I was about to bring her home - with TWINS!!!!!! Vet reluctant to nip as one looked significantly 'stronger' than the other, one week later she was scanned and showed a single embryo.

She foaled exactly one month late, quickly and easily and was a textbook mum and loved the job :)

Expensive, time consuming and stressful - but ultimately worth it. If I was in the same situation again with an older mare I desperately wanted a foal from I would do it again.
 
I've often thought about putting my mare in foal because to me she is special and i would love to have one of her offspring to bring on when she starts to slow down, BUT, similar to wagtail, i just can't bear to think of something going wrong and putting the mares life at risk, i know it is quite possible that she would carry fine and foal easily, but the risk is there and for me ,even that tiny amount of risk is too much:( i could never forgive myself if i lost her under those circumtances:( So i shall continue to ride her and love what we have now and be satisfied with that:)
 
A lot of people on here are talking about breeding their mares to have a bit of them when said mare passes on but if you breed you need to take into account that may well not be the case! If that is the real desire that you could be better off researching your mares bloodlines and seeing if there were any related young stock available who do have the same characteristics you like.
 
JanetGeorge is a very experianced breeder and is quiet right thank you for you reply Mrvelvet but bones dont have to move broad liagments do they take a little longer for the Cervix to open but I wouldnt think its any diffent then a young mare who is fit and tight thats can be much worse
 
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